Latest news with #OverlandParkFireDepartment
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Woman says former firefighter sexually abused her, fears he will avoid punishment
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — FOX4 spoke with a woman who said she's worried that a former metro firefighter will avoid punishment after she said he sexually assaulted her as a child. FOX4 has agreed to protect her identity. Independence police chief on leave, fires back at 'baseless rumors' in FOX4 interview The former metro firefighter, who has been hailed a hero, is charged with criminal sodomy. There was a hearing for him Thursday in Johnson County, but not much happened. The unidentified woman said she is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Trevor Miller. The City of Overland Park and the Overland Park Fire Department (OPFD) are aware of an investigation into a former OPFD employee. 'As soon as the city became aware of the allegations, the former employee was placed on administrative leave,' a spokesperson with the OPFD told FOX4. 'Within a week of being placed on leave, the employee submitted his intention to retire immediately. 'He is no longer an employee of the city or the fire department. The city and Fire department are fully cooperating with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office investigation.' Miller was employed with the city from 1990 to 2023. 'He should be held more accountable for what he's done,' she said. 'For me, personally, growing up, I looked to him as a hero. He's a firefighter for the city. He saves lives.' Miller has been charged with one count of criminal sodomy, from an incident that happened when she was 14. The charge was filed in 2024. 'I knew Trevor growing up as my mother's friend. I saw him occasionally,' she told FOX4. The incident, which occurred in 2012, was reported to law enforcement in October of 2023. At that time, she said Miller was an adult she thought she could confide in. 'In the summer of 2012, I ended up meeting up with him,' she said. 'He took me out to look at Harleys. He taught me how to pump my gas, and he took me to his house and did inappropriate things to me and took me home.' She said she's worried that Miller may get offered a plea agreement – instead of being held accountable for what he's done. Miller has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The case was continued Thursday. The City of Overland Park's website still highlights his efforts to bring a 9/11 memorial to town. 'I don't think he is someone to be looked to as a respectable, trusted member of the community,' she said. 'People should know he's a monster.' Court documents also show that Miller was involved with the 'Camp Inferno' program, which introduced girls to firefighting—and 'he had to be reminded he wasn't there for socializing.' Records show he exchanged information with campers. 'I would definitely say there was grooming. I would definitely say there was sexual abuse,' she said. 'I do encourage people to come forward, but I definitely understand why many don't.' She told FOX4 that she remained silent until 2023, but was driven by two factors to speak out: Having a child of her own The birth of Miller's daughter FOX4 made several attempts to contact Miller's attorney by phone and email; neither inquiry was returned. FOX4 also reached out to the Johnson County District Attorney, who did not comment on the case. Miller has another hearing scheduled for mid-July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
One person taken to hospital after Merriam house fire
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One person was taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon following a house fire in Merriam, Kansas. Crews from Overland Park, Shawnee and Consolidated Fire District #2 were called to the fire at 72nd and Antioch, just before 2:30 p.m. Lawrence police searching for person who stabbed elderly woman First arriving crews on scene reported smoke and fire coming from the garage of a split-level, single-family home. Everyone was reported to be out safely. While working to extinguish the fire, firefighters discovered that the fire had spread to the attic above the garage and main living space. Crews were able to bring the fire under control in about 20 minutes. One resident was taken to an area hospital with minor smoke inhalation. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android The Overland Park Fire Department said two adults will be displaced and are staying with family. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Family thankful after winds topple power line leading to Overland Park house fire
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A Kansas City metro family is grateful for smoke alarms and good neighbors. Fire crews were called to a home in the area of W. 89th Street and Craig Drive Tuesday around midnight for the . The Overland Park Fire Department says it ran about 40 calls between midnight and 8 a.m. Wednesday. Over a dozen related to power lines. Four were fire calls; one was a significant structure fire with heavy smoke coming from an Overland Park resident's garage. 'She's 95 years old, tough as nails, getting out in 28-degree weather with no shoes, just in her pajamas,' the homeowner's son Chris Roth said. 'It was 12:30 and my wife and I were asleep. We got a call from the neighbor here that said my mom was luckily safe inside his house, but the house was on fire. We got in the car and hauled here through the blizzard and checked on her and took her to Shawnee Mission Hospital to make sure all of her breathing was good from the smoke inhalation.' Two men charged in connection to deaths of 3 Chiefs fans in Northland backyard Although the resident of the home, suffered from minor smoke inhalation, Chris and John Roth are thankful their mom made it out alive. 'Smoke did a number. Water did a number on everything. Really looking for pictures, paperwork, anything personal,' John Roth shared with FOX4 Wednesday, as family went back to the brothers credit smoke alarms for their mom still being here. 'The house is an old house, never had smoke alarms. She never had them. Didn't want them. Our sister, luckily, talked her into those because they went off and saved her,' John Roth said. 'She would have slept through the whole thing. She would not be here today, had it not been for the smoke alarms.' Fire crews responded just after midnight during the storm. Investigators believe a tree limb knocked a service line down in the back yard of the home. 'Which is the power line that comes from the pole to the house, hit that, pulled the meter away from the house, started a fire in the back of the house, the backside of the garage,' Media Manager for the Overland Park Fire Department, Jason Rhodes, shared with FOX4. 'It was pretty significant in the garage.' OPFD said fires burn hotter and faster now, than ever before, so early notification, like from a smoke alarm, is vital. 'The winds last night were really, really, high and lot of tree limbs down, lot of power lines down, very unfortunate that that happened, but very fortunate that she had those working smoke alarms and was able to get out safely,' Rhodes shared. 'Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, those things are really going to give you your best chance of survival. You need that early notification, so that you can get out before it's too late. Fire can double in moments.' Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Firefighters from both Overland Park and Lenexa fire departments assisted in extinguishing this fire. 'Firefighters began an offensive fire attack, knocking down fire in the garage, while additional crews searched the house to be sure everyone was out. It took crews about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control,' a release from OPFD said. 'Fire significantly damaged the garage, but the entire home suffered moderate smoke damage. While it appears the fire may have started from a downed powerline in the rear of the home, the exact cause is under investigation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
